OAKLAND — The murder trial against two Eritrean brothers accused of killing three in-laws was postponed Wednesday after a judge agreed with defense attorneys that a translator working the case for the day was failing to properly translate the words of the defendant.

The delay came just as Asmerom Gebreselassie was about to explain why he used a handgun to shoot and kill his mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law in their apartment just before Thanksgiving Day dinner in 2006.

After a morning court session filled with misinterpreted statements, Gebreselassie’s lawyer Darryl Stallworth requested a delay until Thursday when another translator with experience in the case can appear in court.

The court system appoints translators to cases on a daily basis.

“I am very concerned that the most important part of my client’s testimony will not be able to be perceived by the jury as it should,” Stallworth said. “I cannot let my client get back on the stand with what we had this morning.”

The translator used during the morning session appeared to have difficulties translating statements made by Gebreselassie as he explained how he confronted his in-laws about his brother’s death and accusations that one of his brothers-in-law was gay. The translator was not repeating Gebreselassie’s answers verbatim but instead summing up his answers.

When translating answers, the translator continually used the pronoun “he” when speaking about Gebreselassie’s answers.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Vern Nakahara said he agreed with Stallworth’s argument.

“I also noticed the translation issues,” the judge said.

Gebreselassie is expected to begin talking about the shooting Thursday morning when the case continues.

According to the prosecution, the Alameda County Coroner ruled Abraham’s death unknown, but an independent hired pathologist said he died due to natural causes.

The Gebreselassies have pleaded not guilty and said the shooting was in self-defense sparked when their in-laws tried to kill them for revealing the “truth” behind Abraham’s death and because they were going to out a brother-in-law who was gay.